UNPROFOR was authorized to use force in self-defence in reply to attacks against these areas, and to coordinate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) the use of air power in support of its activities.

He noted, nevertheless, that the presence of UNPROFOR was indispensable for controlling the conflict, fostering a climate in which negotiations between the parties could be promoted, preventing the resumption or escalation of conflict, providing a breathing-space for the continued efforts of the peacemakers and for supporting the provision of essential humanitarian assistance.

UNPROFOR forces were to be positioned at key points; heavy weapons were to be withdrawn or put under UNPROFOR control, and a Joint Commission was to be established, with representatives of both sides and chaired by UNPROFOR.

UNPROFOR's limited effectiveness to deter attacks and provide protection stems from an approach to peacekeeping that is dependent on the consent and cooperation of the warring parties.

UNPROFOR was also to monitor and verify compliance with the March 29, 1994, cease-fire agreement between the government and Croatian Serb forces.

UNPROFOR's Bosnia Chief of Operations said these views, as well as the preferences of the other warring parties, must be considered in UNPROFOR deployment and, as a result, the force is not as effectively used as it could be.

The UNPROFOR was composed of nearly 39,000 personnel, 320 of whom were killed on duty.

UNPROFOR was in charge of air interdiction for military aircraft in the Bosnia and Herzegovina airspace (as ordered by the UN Security Council), in coordination with NATO forces (air interdiction missions were the first use of force by NATO).

On 20 December 1995 the forces of the UNPROFOR were reflagged under the NATO led Implementation Force (IFOR) whose task was to implement the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (GFAP — otherwise known as the Dayton Accords or Dayton Agreement).

UNPROFOR was instrumental in achieving a breakthrough in an agreement on freedom of movement in the Mostar area, which was implemented on 23 May, and resulted in a rapid improvement in the quality of life for residents on the eastern bank of the Neretva River.

UNPROFOR persisted in its attempts to visit and establish a presence in Bosnian Serb-controlled areas, particularly in Banja Luka and Bijeljina, which were the scene of continued "ethnic cleansing".

UNPROFOR had neither the means nor the mandate for enforcement action of this nature, and the cooperation of the parties was elusive.

UNPROFOR's task was to stop the fighting and to provide the conditions for a political settlement of the crisis through negotiations.

According to the report, UNPROFOR had ensured the full withdrawal of the Yugoslav army (JNA) from Croatia and prevented the recurrence of hostilities in the UNPAs and pink zones until the Maslenica operation.

UNPROFOR is the biggest, the most expensive and the most complex peace operation in the history of the United Nations.

UNPROFOR was also supposed to interpose itself between the warring factions and was intentionally lightly armed in order to convince the combatants of its peaceful intentions.

UNPROFOR and the humanitarian support provided by NATO were the most ambitious in the history.

This mission was a utopia insofar as the UNPROFOR had absolutely no power to maintain peace except negotiation, and no security plan had been designed in case of non-compliance from the warring parties.

Its goals were both of a military and civilian nature: to keep the peace and build confidence between the warring sides to help achieve a final political solution and restore normal life to Croatia, where it was deployed.

Since the beginning of the UNPROFOR mandate, the number of UN peace-keepers in Croatia has increased to currently include 15,479 men.

Besides UNPROFOR's civil and military departments, several relief and other international agencies took part in the UN peacekeeping operation in Croatia.

This was the beginning of more than 4 years of military activities by the UN in the former Yugoslavia to bring about a cessation of the fighting and to assist in the delivery of humanitarian relief to the beleaguered population.

The initial UNPROFOR deployed to Croatia in 1992 to monitor the cease-fire arrangements between the Croatian and Yugoslavian (Serb) forces.

After the termination of the UNPROFOR, the Secretary General recommended that the UNPREDEP be continued and that it become an independent mission, reporting directly to the UN HQ.